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Postdoc Researcher

USRA and the Science and Technology Institute are seeking a full-time Postdoc Researcher to work in our Huntsville, AL office. The Postdoc Researcher will lead the advancement of the Enhanced Vertical Long Trace Profiler (eVLTP) to support NASA MSFC's goal of advancing replicated X-ray optics to sub-arc-second angular resolutions. This position is supported by a recently selected 3-year award from the NASA Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program and is based at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The VLTP is the only instrument in the world in its vertical long-trace configuration, specifically designed to measure slope and figure errors of grazing-incidence X-ray mirrors with extremely high accuracy over meter-class apertures. The successful candidate will play a central role in developing and advancing the eVLTP to support the development and validation of next generation grazing incidence optics for NASA X-ray missions.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Instrument Development:

• Lead the development and implementation of enhancements to the VLTP to improve slope accuracy and repeatability.
• Identify, model, and mitigate systematic error sources.
• Design and integrate improved optical, optomechanical, and environmental control systems.
• Develop advanced calibration techniques and establish quantitative error budgets.

Software, Analysis, and Modeling:

• Develop and maintain software for instrument control, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Implement algorithms for slope extraction and surface figure reconstruction.
• Model instrument performance and guide design improvements.

Precision Metrology:

• Perform high-accuracy slope measurements of grazing-incidence X-ray mirrors.
• Develop improved measurement methodologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and robustness.
• Support fabrication, process development, and validation of optics for future NASA missions.

Project and Scientific Contributions:

• Support milestones and deliverables for the NASA APRA-funded project.
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Collaborate with NASA engineers, scientists, and academic partners.
• Contribute to the long-term development of world-leading X-ray optics metrology capabilities.

This position offers a rare opportunity to play a leading role in advancing a one-of-a-kind optical metrology instrument that supports NASA's next flagship X-ray observatory. The successful candidate will have significant technical ownership, opportunities for scientific leadership, and the ability to make lasting contributions to the development of next-generation spaceflight optics.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

• Experience with precision optical instrumentation or metrology.
• Strong experimental laboratory skills.
• Programming experience in LabView, MATLAB, Python, or similar scientific environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex technical projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with slope profilers, interferometers, or long trace profilers.
• Experience with grazing-incidence, X-ray, or optics.
• Knowledge of optical alignment and optomechanical system design.
• Experience identifying and mitigating systematic measurement errors.
• Experience developing scientific instrumentation.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance is a benefit.

Working Conditions: This job operates in a professional office. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc. This is largely a sedentary role. This job may require extended work hours, evenings and weekends to meet milestones/deadlines.

Remote Working: This position is not available for remote work. Candidate must be in the Huntsville, AL area.

Travel: Negligible – attending scientific conferences 1-2 times per year

US Citizenship is required.

This position is contingent upon funding.

Applicants should apply to the posting at USRA Careers and include a letter of interest, resume, or curriculum vitae. Additional information on USRA can be found at USRA.

USRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Disabled / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity.